Burt Lancaster: biography and filmography

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Burt Lancaster is a talented American actor, whose existence the audience learned thanks to the films "The Nuremberg Trials", "The Leopard", "The Killers", "Family Portrait in the Interior". The winner of prestigious awards, including the Golden Globe and Oscar, during his life managed to act in more than 90 films, try on the most unexpected images. What is known about this mysterious person?

Bert Lancaster: biography of the star

The future actor was born in Los Angeles, it happened in November 1913. His family was not connected with the world of cinema, his father worked at the post office, his mother was a housewife. No wonder Burt Lancaster never dreamed of becoming an actor in his early years.

Even in early childhood, the boy became interested in sports, which was facilitated by excellent physical data. Baseball remained his passion for many years; for the sake of training, he often sacrificed school lessons. Passion gave rise to the desire to becomeas a physical education teacher, but college quickly bored Bert. After dropping out, Lancaster began to perform in the circus as an acrobat, even created his own troupe, which did not last long.

Find yourself

It is possible that Burt Lancaster would have remained an acrobat, if not for the intervention of Providence. A serious hand injury ended his barely-begun career. For some time, the young man worked as a supermarket controller, then briefly held the position of concert bureau manager.

The Second World War influenced his choice of life path. Once on the front, Burt Lancaster became a member of the pop brigade, which existed to raise the morale of American soldiers. With her, the young man visited Australia, Italy, North Africa. Basically, he was trusted to perform simple acrobatic numbers.

First roles

It was thanks to his work in the team that he was noticed by an assistant theater producer, this happened already in the post-war years. Having accepted the invitation of an assistant, Burt Lancaster, whose photo can be seen in this article, played in the play for the first time. The debut for him was the Broadway production of "Sounds of the Hunt", in which the aspiring actor embodied the image of a charming military man. The critics booed the play, but spoke positively about the talent of the debutant.

The play "Sounds of the Hunt" became a kind of ticket to life for Lancaster. Thanks to his participation in the production, Bert received severaloffers to play in the movies. The young man opted for the film "Desert Fury". Unfortunately, this crime drama was not successful with the audience, however, the young actor, who coped well with his role, was noticed by other directors.

First Achievements

In 1946, the charming Burt Lancaster played his first starring role. The filmography of the aspiring actor acquired the noir "Killers", directed by Robert Siodmak. The young man embodied in this picture the image of a naive and brave killer, which appealed to thousands of viewers.

Bert played a similar role in the film "Brute Force", released the following year, this time he got the image of an innocently convicted convict. The next two dramas with his participation were also successful: “Cross-cross”, “Sorry, wrong number”. Basically, in the formative years of his career, the actor played physically strong people who, by the will of fate, find themselves in extreme situations and are forced to get out of them.

Bright roles of the 50s

In the 50s, Burt Lancaster was filming a lot. The biography of the actor shows that one of his most successful films released during this period was the painting "Fire and Arrow". The actor embodied the amazing image of the Italian "Robin Hood" protecting the poor and weak in the 12th century. Given Bert's circus background, it's no surprise that he chose to perform the acrobatic stunts that the film abounded in on his own.

Another proof of talentLancaster became the role of the Indian Massai, he embodied this difficult image in the adventure story "Apache", filmed by Robert Aldrich. The film is dedicated to the problems of the indigenous people of the United States, oppressed by white Americans. The audience was captivated not only by the fascinating plot, but also by the abundance of chases and stunts, many of which the actor also took on.

The star was nominated for an Oscar by the 1953 film From Here to Eternity. Starring in this picture, Lancaster acquired the title of American sex symbol, which belonged to him for many years. The episode of his hero's passionate kiss with his partner in the waves of the Hawaiian surf is still considered one of the brightest and sexiest scenes in the history of cinema.

Best films of the 60s

Actor Burt Lancaster played many outstanding roles in the 60s. The Oscar went to the star thanks to his filming in the film "Elmer Gentry", which was released in 1960. In this film project, the man embodied the image of a wandering charlatan who unexpectedly falls in love with a mysterious stranger who met on his way.

Critics especially appreciated the psychological roles that Bert played in the dramas "Seven Days in May", "The Nuremberg Trials". Dreaming of abandoning the established role, Lancaster during this period began to collaborate with European directors, became one of the favorite actors of Bertolucci, Visconti.

The audience was greatly impressed by his role as a hereditary Sicilian aristocrat. He brilliantly embodied the image of Prince Salina, playing in the film "Leopard", the plotwhich was borrowed from the work of the same name by Lampedusa.

Interesting roles of the 70-80s

Having celebrated his 60th birthday, Burt Lancaster continued to actively act in films. "Unknown War" is one of the main achievements of the actor during this period. The picture is dedicated to the events that took place on the Eastern Front. She tells American viewers about the role of the USSR in World War II. Bert acts as host and narrator in this US-USSR collaboration.

The audience was captivated by the image of the courageous Colonel Anthony, which Lancaster created in the historical action movie "Zulu Dawn". His adventurer Lou Pascal, who decided to give way to the young, whom he played in the film "Atlantic City", did not go unnoticed. The last role gave the actor another Oscar nomination.

Of course, not all the bright roles that Burt Lancaster played in the 70-80s are mentioned above. Films with his participation, which are definitely worth a look, are "Twentieth Century", "Family Portrait in the Interior", "Skin", "Buffalo Bill and the Indians".

Marriages and divorces

Bert's first choice was the gymnast June Ernst. He was impressed by the way she performs horizontal tricks in the air, which in those years, few women succeeded. The marriage was concluded in 1935, but after a few years the lovers broke up due to domestic conflicts and June's jealousy.

In 1943, Lancaster's attention was given to Norma Anderson. The hypocrite met this girl duringhis speeches with the front-line brigade, in those years he was not yet a star. Their wedding took place in 1946. This marriage lasted longer than the previous one, Bert and Norma broke up only in 1969, having managed to acquire five children. Lancaster had an excellent relationship with his sons and daughters throughout his life, he often found time to communicate with them.

The actor decided to tie the knot again only in 1990, choosing Susan Martin, a simple woman not connected with the world of cinema. It is known that they lived together for several years before they got married. The lovers remained together until the death of the star. Susan devotedly cared for her sick husband.

Disease, death

The last years of his life turned out to be a real test for the famous actor. In 1983, Burt Lancaster suffered two micro-infarctions, as a result of which he ended up on the operating table. In 1988, he insisted on participating in a protest against the colorization of films from the 30s and 40s, organized by his fellow actors, despite serious he alth problems.

Bert suffered a severe stroke in 1990, which led to loss of speech, partial paralysis. Of course, after this tragic event, he could no longer return to the set. The third heart attack, unfortunately, was the last for the star of American cinema. He passed away in October 1994 at his home surrounded by family and friends.

His will was made public, in which Lancaster categorically forbade memorial services after his death, as he did not likesad ceremonies. As the talented actor wished, his body was cremated. It is known that the ashes of the star were buried at Westwood Cemetery.